Detachable supporting provisions for window fans



Sept. 3, 1957 G. A. DELF ET AL 2,304,817

DETACHABLE SUPPORTING PROVISIONS FOR WINDQW FANS Filed Nov. e, 1953 23'27 a1 2;; z; 43

INVENTORS GEORGE A. DELF GLENN A. DELF lat/W United States DETACHABLESUPPORTING PROVISIONS FOR WHIDOW FANS George A. Delf and Glenn A. Delf,St. Louis, Mo.

Application November 6, 1953, Serial No. 390,459

4 Claims. (Cl. 98-94) This invention relates to improvements indetachable supporting provisions for window fans, and more particularlyto an improved, low-cost, easily installed arrangement for thedetachable retention of a portable window fan in the window openingserved thereby, while permitting easy physical transposition of theassembly for conversion from intake to exhaust usage, as well asfacilitating the usage of the fan assembly at any time, as a freeair orcirculating fan within a room or other space.

The present applicants have heretofore designed a highly satisfactoryand efficient assembly for similar purposes, identified withimprovements disclosed and claimed in Patent No. 2,644,390 issued July7, 1953, and entitled Reversible-flow Window Fan. However, such anassembly requires more or less specially formed, inwardly projectingside supports mounted in the window opening served by the fan assembly,together with certain other adjunctive parts and equipment which enhancethe cost of units of the kind covered by the patent. Further, suchearlier facilities as are known to us for enabling a physicaltransposition of a fan assembly, involve various pivotal arrangementsfor rotation of a fan-motor unit about either a horizontal or a verticalaxis, all of which result in substantial production cost, liability toresulting shunt air paths, requirement of considerable time and at leasta moderate degree of skill in effecting physical transposition of theassembly, and other difficulties. With a realization of the difficultiesreferred to, it is a principal objective of the present invention toprovide a structurally simple, easily manipulated, low cost mountingmeans permitting the physical reversal of the fan motor unit to providea selection between intake and exhaust usage with respect to the roomsserved, and to facilitate manual removal of the fan from the window whendesired.

Further objectives and advantages of the present development include animproved lug and socket connection of novel form and of novel location,the improved connection being such that the weight of the fan motorassembly and housing aids in maintaining the supported and supportingparts firmly in assembly.

The foregoing and many other objects will become more readily apparentfrom the following detailed description of a presently preferredcommercial embodiment of the improvements, particularly when thedescription is considered in connection with the accompanying drawing,in which:

Fig. 1 is a top or plan view of a window fan assembly and appurtenantparts, embodying the present improvements;

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the assembly as seen from the inside orroom side of the assembly when mounted in a window opening to be servedthereby;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along a vertical median planelongitudinally of an improved form of telescopic supporting bar, showingalso in section, window-mounted means for assembling the bar to theframing elements of a window;

2,804,817 Patented Sept. 3, 1957 Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional viewtaken transversely of the supporting bar of Fig. 3, this section beinglocated by line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an exploded view, with parts shown in perspective, of afragmentary intermediate portion of one of the mounting bars, togetherwith a socket member constituing a fan hanger, further showing afragmentary part of a tongue or lug normally engaging the socket of suchmember, and

Fig. 6 is an exploded view showing a portion of a fixed window-mountedstrip and an end portion of a supporting bar, illustrating in furtherdetail a hook and slot connection between these parts as same would berelated just prior to assembly.

Referring now by characters of reference to the drawing, and first toFigs. 1 and 2, the assembly in operative form will of course include afan, exemplified as a propeller type fan PF direct-connected to andoperatively driven by a motor M. The fan and motor may, solely forbrevity of present description, be considered as conventional and may beof any suitable types. The fan and motor are operatively disposed withinand externally supported by a partial enclosure referred to as a framegenerally indicated at 10, the structure 10 including front and rearwire guard portions 11.

Shown as projecting horizontally and outwardly of an upper portion ofthe frame 10, is an upper arm 12 and a similar lower arm, each of whichis securely attached to or forms a part of the frame structure 10. Eachof the elements 12 is provided at its outer terminus with a downturnedlug or tongue 14, preferably rounded along its lower margin for greaterease of insertion of the tongue into a socket structure hereinafterdescribed. A given pair of the arms with the lugs formed thereon,project respectively from an upper, and from a lower portion of theframe 10 each pair extended from the same side or face thereof. It isgreatly preferred to provide an identical pair of lugs designated fordifferentiation, as 15, projected from the opposite side or face of theframe, thus providing as will appear, for the physical transposition ofthe fan assembly when it is desired to convert the fan from exhaustusage to intake operation. There have been omitted, in the interest ofclarity of illustration, any side panels or wings, fixed or adjustable,which may be used adjunctively to the frame assembly to prevent anyshunt flow of air between the frame 10 and the window framing elements.

Referring now to the structure and function of the one or more mountingbars through which the fan-motor assembly is normally positionedsecurely in the window, it will appear from Figs. 1 and 2 that theultimate support of the mounting agencies is derived from the verticalframing elements of the window, these consisting of vertical stiles S ortrim elements T, to whichever accessible, is affixed a pair of verticalwindow strips 20. One such strip is located at each opposite side of thewindow frame, substantially as shown, each strip 20 being provided withone or preferably a plurality of hook elements 21 best seen in Fig. 6.The strips 20 may be left permanently in position, screws 22 or the likebeing employed for their attachment.

In most cases a pair of mounting or supporting bars generally indicatedat 23, serve to bridge the opposite frame elements of the windowopening, the pair thereof being shown in Fig. 2 as spaced vertically ofeach other with each bar in horizontal position, somewhat above andbelow a projected fan circle, for the reason now obvious, of minimizingobstruction to the air stream.

Each of the mounting bars 23, a description of either being applicableto both, includes a pair of telescoping sections 24 and 25, each ofwhich may be formed of a channel stock, the sections being soproportioned that the element 25 may operate smoothly within and alongthe element 24, preferably with no more than adequate working clearancetherebetween. The channel members are inverted as shown, and each isprovided withalongitudinal top slot 26 in the member 25, and 27 .in themember 24. The slots 26 and 27 are coincidental or in registry over atleast a portion of-the length of each, for a-purpose later appearing.Formed just inwardly of the outer end-of each of the sections 24 and 25,is a transverse slot designated at 30 (Fig-. 6), each" such slot servingto receive the upwardly presented arm of an adjacent hook 21 on thenearest window strip 20,

A slidable socket member or fan hanger 31 is carried by the supportingbar, the socket member including an upper or saddle portion comprised oftwo horizontal legs 32 apertured to receive clamping screws 33. Theselatter extend vertically downwardly through registering portions of theslots 26 and 27, each into threaded engagement with nuts or tapped'strip34 (Fig. 4) normally tightly engaging the upper bridge portion of theinnermost inverted channel 25, along which the nuts or strip may beslidably moved when the screws 33 are loosened.

Extended downwardly and laterally of the portions 32 is a plate 35 whichlies closely adjacent the nearest side face of the channel section '24,except that the intermediate portion of plate 35 is deflected outwardly,as best shown by Fig. 5, to provide with the adjacent face of the outerchannel, a socket located by numeral 36. The socket is of a width anddepth to receive the terminal lug or tongue 14 of one of the arms 12 or15. The proportion of the width of socket 36 to the gauge of the lug 14,is such that the lug and socket may be brought into interfitted relationwith a relatively snug fit. It will further appear that since the lug isformed of a fiat stock, it is impossible for the lug, hence the fanframe and contents, to shift about a vertical median line. Either (orboth) of the socket 36 and the lug 14 is preferably formed with itssides slightly out of parallelism, so that the tendency of the lug toseat in the socket is enhanced due to the weight of the fan assembly.Such a wedging engagement of the parts is further enhanced by extendingthe lug or tongue 14 at a slightly acute angle to the arm 12, whichresults in a tightening effect between the interfitting parts as sameare snugly interengaged. It will of course have now become obvious thatthe male and female elements may, if desired, be transposed, in that asocket structure may be carried by the arm 12 or otherwise 'by the motorframe, while the companion element interfitting the socket, may belocated on the slidable hanger member generally indicated at 31.

The manner of installation as well as the adaptability of the mountingprovisions described, are thought to have become apparent from theforegoing description, but it may be noted for completeness that a usualfirst step involves the installation of the window strips 20 throughfastening elements such as the screws 22. The mounting bars 23 may nowbe set in place by first backing off the screws 33, then drawing the barsections 24-25 in opposite directions to adjust the bar to a length suchthat the slots 3%) will engage the adjacent hooks 21. Following this,the slidable member 31, being freely movable along the bar, is broughtto a centered position with respect thereto, and'the screws 33 firmlythreaded up. It will be noted that the slidable socket member 31together with the screws and nuts, serve the combined purposes of asupport directly engageaole by the arms of the fan frame, as well as aclamp to maintain the sections 24-25 firmly in adjusted relation and inparallelism. The same steps of installation having been taken withrespect to the second mounting bar, the fan-motorframe assembly isapplied to the bars by bringing the assembly to a position just slightlyabove its final windowsupported position, then lowering same so that thelugs or tongues 14 are fully seated in the sockets 36. Any

side panels or wings utilized to fill any remaining window spacelaterally of the unit 10, will of course be adjusted to a position ofservice.

Assuming the set of lugs and arms to have been initially selected suchthat the fan discharges outwardly of the window, as for exhaustpurposes, it may almostinstantly be converted to an intake fan merely bylifting the unit 10 slightly, moving same away from the window openingsufiiciently to enable rotation through a half turn about a verticalmedian axis, then setting the opposite pair of lugs in the socketstherefor.

When the fan assembly is desired for use as a free-air or circulatingfan, it may be lifted as described and moved to any desired roomlocation.

It will now have appeared that the structure as described will servefully to realize the several objects hereinabove expressed, as well asothers implied from the more extended description; Although the partshave been referred to by detailed reference, the detail of descriptionshould be understood solely in an instructive, rather than in anylimiting sense, numerous variants being possible within the fair scopeof the claims hereunto appended.

We claim as our invention:

1. A mounting device for a window fan assembly including a frame, forthe retention thereof in a window opening, the mounting devicecomprising a pair of mounting bars spaced one above another in bridgingrelation to the opposite sides of a framed window opening, means foranchoring the opposite ends of each bar internally of opposite windowframe elements, each said mounting bar including a pair oftelescopically related channel sections formed to provide an uppermostslot in each section, with the slots, over a portion of the length ofeach, being arranged in registering relation, clamping screws throughsaid slots, means located to receive the screws for securement of thechannel sections in relatively fixed relation, a slidably adjustableelement having a portion overlying the outermost section of the mountingbar and apertured to receive the clamping screws extending therein, theslidable element thence extended inwardly and downwardly of the windowopening to provide with the bar, a normally fixed mounting socket, and apair of tongue elements carried by the fixed frame of the window fanassembly, and adapted conformably to interfit the sockets in wedging orself-tightening relation under the weight of the window fan assembly,the pair of said bars being arranged in parallel, vertically spacedrelation.

2. A mounting device for a portable window fan assembly including aframe, for the retention thereof in a window opening served by the fanassembly, the mounting device comprising a pair of normally horizontalmounting bars spaced one above another in bridging relation to theopposite sides of a framed window opening, means for anchoring theopposite ends of each bar in detachable relation just internally ofopposite window frame elements, each said mounting bar including a pairof inverted, telescopically related channel sections formed to providean uppermost slot in each section, with the slots, over a portion of thelength of each, being arranged in registering relation, clamping screwsthrough said slots, means slidably positioned within the innermostchannel, and located to receive the screws for securement of the channelsections in relatively fixed relation to establish a predeterminedlength of the bar, a slidably adjustable element having a portionoverlying the outermost section of the mounting bar and apertured toreceive the clamping screws extending therein, the slidable elementthence extended inwardly and downwardly of the window opening to providewith the bar, a normally fixed mounting socket, and a pair of tongueelements carried by the fixed frame of the window fan assembly, andadapted conformably to interfit the sockets in wedging or selftighteningrelation under the weight of the Window fan assembly, the pair of saidbars being arranged in parallel, vertically spaced relation and spacedapart to an extent such that the bars, together with the tonques andsockets, are located respectively above and below a projected fancircle.

3. A mounting device for a portable window fan assembly including aframe, the device consisting of a mounting bar member including a pairof overlapping, longitudinally adjustable sections, said bar memberbeing disposable in bridging relation to a framed window opening, saidsections being provided with slots arranged in register, a slidableadjustable element carried by said bar member, clamping means extendingthrough said slidable element and said slots, means located to cooperatewith said clamping means to secure said sections in relatively fixedrelation and to secure said slidable element to said sections, one partof a two-part connector carried by said slidable element, a companionpart of the two part connector carried by the frame of the assembly,said connector parts slidably interfitting so as to mount the assemblydetachably on said bar.

4. A mounting device for a window fan assembly including a frame, forthe retention of the assembly in a window opening, the mounting devicecomprising a pair of mounting bars spaced one above another in bridgingrelation to the opposite sides of a framed window opening, means foranchoring the opposite ends of each bar, each said mounting barincluding a pair of overlapping, longitudinally adjustable sections,said sections being pro vided with slots arranged in registeringrelation, a slidably adjustable element overlying each of the mountingbars, and being provided with an aperture, clamping screws extendingthrough said aperture and said slots, means located to receive thescrews for securement of the sections in relatively fixed relation, andfor securement of the slidable element to said sections, a socketformation on each of said slidable elements, and a pair of tongueelements carried by the frame of the Window fan assembly, and adaptedconformably to interfit the socket formations so as to mount saidassembly detachably on said bars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,698,328 Dufii Jan. 8, 1929 1,929,688 Hirschman Oct. 10, 1933 1,935,179Orear Nov. 14, 1933 2,487,294 Belter Nov. 8, 1949 2,553,172 Carrick May15, 1951 2,619,023 Kisling Nov. 25, 1952 2,644,390 Delf et a1. July 7,1953

